Perfect Chicago Cubs trade target may already be off the board

The Chicago Cubs need a high-powered bat this offseason to project as a serious playoff contender next year. That's no secret to fans after a disappointing 2024 season in which their offense struggled through multiple months without a star anchoring the lineup. We all know that Juan Soto is a pipe dream though - even more so after Cody Bellinger opted into his deal with the team - so the best possible option was always going to be the trade route.

With as many as eight top-100 prospects to trade from, the Cubs have the assets to make something big happen. It's never certain exactly who is available from the outset of an offseason, but one name has been at the top of the list as one of the biggest impact pieces likely to be on the block - Brent Rooker. The Oakland A's slugger broke out in a big way over the last two years, with his most recent campaign accruing 5.1 fWAR with 39 home runs and a .293/.365/.562 slash line. Among all hitters last year, his 164 wRC+ ranked seventh just behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bobby Witt Jr.

We've previously discussed Rooker as an ideal candidate to join the Cubs on multiple occasions because he's not just a big-time slugger, but a controllable one. He's entering his age-30 season and won't hit free agency until 2028. Landing such a power bat for that time would change the outlook of the Northsiders' lineup. Unfortunately, that might not happen if A's GM David Forst's latest comments are to be believed.

Speaking to Jon Heyman during the GM Meetings, Forst was blunt when speaking about his star slugger - "We're going to keep [Rooker]." Such frank comments don't bode well for any Cubs' pursuit, especially because Oakland has fair reason not to trade him. For one, this will be the A's first year playing in West Sacramento as they begin the process of moving to Las Vegas. It doesn't hurt to have a familiar face around to market the franchise during such a tumultuous period. The extra years of control are also a factor.

Now, the caveat, as always, is that no doesn't always mean no when talking about MLB trades. For instance, the Nationals were adamant that they weren't going to trade Soto before eventually shipping him off to San Diego. Situations change and, sometimes, the right offer can still make a deal happen. Forst's comments are pretty definitive, but it's also something he kind of has to say when it involves Oakland's best player. The fact that Rooker is hitting arbitration for the first time also makes it harder to see the A's ignoring trade offers altogether.

The Cubs will have to get creative to bolster the offense

What it does likely mean for the Cubs is that any potential pursuit of Rooker would likely need to be a bowl-me-over type offer to make it happen. That doesn't really fit Jed Hoyer's value-obsessed M.O., but never say never. It's another reminder that this offseason will be complicated with few easy answers to fixing the team's flaws while sticking to the budget. This is where Hoyer will have to save his job - by feeling out deals that aren't immediately obvious and being willing to part with the prospect capital to make those moves happen.

As far as what's out there now, any hopes of Guerrero Jr. have similarly been dashed as the Blue Jays seek to potentially build around him and the Cubs were rebuffed in their attempts to trade for Logan O'Hoppe at last year's trade deadline. Toronto GM Ross Atkins has similarly indicated that former target Bo Bichette won't be available. That big bat seems elusive right now on the trade market, but there will be options with teams like the Rangers cutting payroll and more situations shaking out.